Ballet Basics: Improve Your Hands & Arms | Kathryn Morgan

[@babsnadoy]

I like the classic hand position. It looks more elegant.

[@miadjojowasitomalik]

You're a brilliant teacher.

[@BellydancerIsabella]

This is very helpful for belly dance too.. Thank you!❤️🌹

[@cutie3638]

I've always had good arms but I'm returning to dance after taking nearly 2 years off in college and then having to do physical therapy for some injuries. I've been watching your videos for the past 2 weeks and they've really helped me. Some are a great review and others give me pointers or explain things in ways that are a bit more clear to me than how my teachers explained them. Thanks so much! I look forward to taking one of your online classes in the future.

[@Zoom_1012]

I'm glad you made this video. I think a lot of people/teachers don't emphasize the detail that needs to be learned for proper hand position. My teacher teaches me what you called the Classical hand position. Honestly, I didn't know it had a name 🙂🙆🏼‍♂️

[@kewlestgurleva]

Can you do a ballet basics video on head positioning (I think it's called epaulement...)? As a beginner watching world ballet day, I realized everyone's heads magically tilted the same way at the barre.

[@Lady_Sibyl_Vane]

+kewlestgurleva Yes!! please do a video on head positioning, i'm really needing!

[@meowingwool]

I know for RAD (for the barre) it's: a la second -> head straight ahead, derriere -> looking away from the working leg, devant -> looking towards the working leg. (But keep the eyeline up.) Also we follow the hands a lot.

[@catherinecarterart]

Hi, Katie, I very much enjoy all of your videos. I have to tell you how much I admire the way you have faced your health issues head-on, in a pro-active way, and even allowed them to help you discover a whole new career and connection to up-and-coming and professional ballerinas and ballet enthusiasts whom you might not have otherwise reached. It would be easy to be bitter or see yourself as a victim, because it really is a bummer that this happened to you, through no fault of your own, just as your professional career was taking off. But you have moved forward in an admirable, empowered, unique and creative way, a way that is greatly inspiring to many others. Good for you!!

[@kathryn_morgan]

+catherinecarterart Thank you so much Catherine! That means the world.

[@catherinecarterart]

+Kathryn Morgan I'm so glad - it was meant most sincerely. Keep on keeping on!

[@kellym587]

I've always wondered if the "claw" look was truly what Balanchine intended. I wonder why the "showing all 5 fingers" has transitioned into "the claw"? I would imagine that the teachers at SAB and especially the ballet masters who danced for Balanchine would continue to teach Balanchine's aesthetic in the way he intended... very interesting... I always love hearing your opinion and perspective on everything ballet-related, Kathryn. Thank you!

[@miatoscane]

Thank you Kathryn for all your precious advice! I love the way you explain the ballet basics, very clear and detailed. By the way, the studio where you filmed the video is very nice!

[@daffo595]

You have such a nice strong back! Can you teach us how to get those muscles as well? My teacher is always telling us to feel our arms from the back and stresses how important it is for artistry but it's really difficult when you're not sure what you're feeling for.

[@kathryn_morgan]

+Daph Duck Thank you! Yes! I will!

[@krrrzzzzzz]

Finally someone comments on those extreme Balanchine hands. They are not esthetic at all!

[@kathryn_morgan]

+Mariana N Haha nope

[@manga12]

+Kathryn Morgan you might do claws if you are doing the role of caraboosa in sleeping beauty though, or an evil role heh.

[@jessicabloxom2754]

Love this, thank you!! port de bras is one of my favorite parts of ballet. I love feeling the energy shoot out of my fingertips.

[@maureenseel118]

Thanks for the help, Katie. This does feel a little better. My arms in particular tend to get kind of stiff so it's good to know what the hands and shoulders ought to be doing.

[@laxmiisabella3305]

Dear Katy, Thank you so much for posting this video! I generally struggle with my arms and hands and they are the reason I don't get many auditions! I was really grateful for this video - after watching it and putting what you taught into practice in class, my teacher said he finally saw my arms trying to get as good as my legs! Thank you sooo much!

[@kathryn_morgan]

+Laxmi Isabella I am so glad this helped you!

[@michellehaakensen]

Dear Kathryn! I simply love this new basic series of yours!!! Do you think you could do such a basic video about attitudes and about arabesques? I never know where my hips should go with either 🤔😳 Thank you SO much for your incredible work, your videos and tips are of such tremendous help ❤️

[@krsextonart]

Thank you as always!!

[@gayeponine3223]

So helpful, thank you!!

[@SyperFyfik]

Thanks for the video Katie!! Finally I got an explanation what did those round fingers suppose to be... Just Balanchine went wrong. Anyway, I am quite new in the ballett world.. After over 14 years of dancing break, I decided I want to try classical!! I made it my hobby, I love it and your videos make me even more excited about coming back home from work :) good job!!!

[@anamariarecio8939]

very usefull, i've 6 years without going to ballet and I didn't know what I was doing wrong with my arms because I didn't remmember this!

[@tingtingx8]

ive always had trouble with my arms.. they are not good. Im trying to find out how to make my wrists and arms round and elegant like a proper ballerina.

[@theodora_pilates]

Hi Katie, as an adult starting ballet I just love all your videos, you've been so helpful that I have no words. I'm sure being in the NYC Ballet was awesome, and I've seen the videos of you dancing and you were amazing, but you're such a great teacher that I'm glad you decided to switch careers--less stress too which is always good! That's all I wanted to say basically, but maybe also ask for a technique video on how to improve cambre if you find the time? Oh and I would love your honest opinion on if the front and side splits can be improved for an adult who has never achieved them! Thanks!

[@jankoraven]

Very helpful! And I loved the explanation of the hands Balanchine actually wanted versus some of the claws we see now. ;)

[@kathryn_morgan]

+jankoraven Haha thank you. I felt it needed an explanation...

[@elifsusloly7440]

Thanks Katie! I starts to study ballet and I really want to know about the arms positions and hand positions.

[@danicajvv]

Dear Kathryn, thank you for another impeccable video. As always, you teach us so much. With love, dani

[@kathryn_morgan]

+Danica-Christine Janse van Vuuren Thank you Dani!

[@meowingwool]

This is the great thing about hypoextended arms...a good ballet arm is almost straight for me. However, I do have a weird twisting movement when doing breathes, so the line doesn't look like it's stuck at 3/4 of the way.

[@janedoex8345]

I somewhere heard all fingers should be together, but not touching each other, or cling together, be lightly bent, so they are basically just close and the second finger can somehow "lead" or be aligned with the arm, sort of lengthen it... but not like one is pointing at something, but be the one standing out a tiny bit; like a cm or so. And somehow that sounds logic and could describe what I've seen as correct...

[@nadiaballetlover4308]

Thank you Katie - really helpful and interesting! This is an area I really need to work on. Xx

[@hannahdavis8371]

This was so helpful!! could you please do a summer intensive series? (everything we need to know)

[@jacijed2885]

Video on spotting?

[@madelinewichmer8770]

This was so helpful! Thank you!

[@abcmontes]

THANK YOU!! Really helpful as always!!

[@kathryn_morgan]

+Andrea Montes My pleasure Andrea!

[@h0l89ly2534magical]

please could you do a video on fourth plie and improving demi-plie, landing glissande in 5th because i always land with the front foot on top of my other foot with bruises/bashes my foot thx

[@najia59]

You're so helpful!

[@anatofind2830]

thank you so much for this! as an adult beginner I struggle MAJORLY with my arms. To me they always look bent and crooked like my elbow bones are too big. I have major chicken wings and I will be using your video a lot to improve my arms

[@archcm8667]

Can u talk about how to improve leaps and jumps for example for the height of jump and looking like you're floating

[@betsykirkland418]

Why do some professional ballerinas let their elbow wilt in slightly when preparing for both a pirouette en dehor, and also, I've noticed a collapse in the elbow region in general in Russian trained ballerinas? Is it simply a difference in aesthetics? Or, in your opinion, does that difference affect their overall ability as dancers (detrimentally)?

[@arabellat5133]

Stylistic ellongé. I had a teacher also tell me it helps because you can feel when your arms engage. Like less engaged before and then engage to turn.

[@ellagoulet]

Can you do a video on a full New York room tour? Thanks!

[@Tigerheiress]

how can i strengthen my shoulders

[@GiraffeyMegan]

can you give us some daily workouts for ballerinas to do? not just ballet related. more like on the exercise side, to strengthen back and arm muscles

[@nanibuchanan7443]

This was very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing the specifics. I've noticed in recent years dancers using blade like hands, rather than classic. Not certain if these hands are supposed to be ballet or jazz?

[@nameless7582]

Can you please make a video about improving your entrechats?

[@mnkmrs2615]

Hello Katie, i wondered if you could do a pre-performance routine type of thing? (Even though you made the Performance anxiety video) It would be really helpful. Thank you!

[@IdolEyes84]

Thank you :)

[@pantalaimon1982]

so simple, but also so difficult. I feel like I never quite got my arms to look strong and supported. recently, a learned a trick from a teacher who told me to activate my pinkie fingers and rotate them in and slightly up. it helps! ballet is is always a work in progress, isn't it?

[@kathryn_morgan]

+pantalaimon1982 It is SUCH a work in progress! Every day!

[@arabellat5133]

I'm going to try that. Thanks!

[@K_ballet]

I’m still struggling with hyperextended arms. Teacher correcting elbows/arms constantly. :(

[@clairebear5279]

I've got an anterior pelvic tilt and it messes up my posture. Do you have any advice as to how to cure it/ work with it? Also, I'm working on keeping my hips stable because they often go everywhere when I dance; do you have any advice? Thank you in advance!

[@tingtingx8]

I'm always bending my arms and I just can't get them rounded! It's always either too up or too down. Never round. Rarely. Any tips?

[@midnight851]

Really appreciate these videos, Katie. I'm a teenage beginner and I always notice that in sautes my feet tend to flail in the air. Everything else is correct, my balance is great, form is great, but I can never fully point my feet properly. Is there anything I can do to help this?

[@arabellat5133]

You probably need to strengthen the backs of your toes. Practice pushing each foot one by one from demi to pointe. Focus on pushing down. You'll get floppy feet if they're not fully pointed. And when jumping they are usually unpointed if you don't use your feet to jump. Less thighs, more feet! Good slow landing helo stregnthen your feet, too.

[@stephaniebeemsterboer1831]

Hi Katy! this video was very helpful, thank you! but I was wondering where you got the marley flooring in your home studio? I am trying to make a studio of my own but can't find it anywhere!

[@ellloueez]

I'm trained in classical ballet & my teacher will blu tack people's thumbs down or stray fingers together if they get too rounded!

[@graciawaite8028]

i can feel it on the top of my shoulders a lot even if i use my back

[@nicksypixy]

what about teaching arms to children from scratch

[@rebeccaroberts8120]

Would just like to add that for RAD students, that the arms need to be slightly lower than shoulder level, as that is the style. Katy's are obviously the product of her career but for Royal Academy students, they just need to be a bit lower 😊

[@meowingwool]

I was taught that they should slope down until your hands are in line with your belly button. I dunno if this has changed with the updated grades...